High school locks its gates in bid to stop dog fouling on playing fields

A RUTHIN school has had to resort to locking its gates to prevent dog owners allowing their pets to foul on the playing fields.

Ysgol Brynhyfryd on Mold Road put up signs in January asking people not to walk their dogs on the school grounds.

Dog mess has been left on playing fields and the grounds of the school posing a threat to the health of pupils there.

Business manager for Ruthin schools, Aled Rees, said: “I would appeal to people not to walk their dogs on the school grounds as they are not a public footpath.”

“The site has been open which allows people to take their dogs for walks through the grounds. But we have had to start locking the gates and put signs up to stop them from doing this as our grounds are not public footpaths. Between the hours of 9.15am and 3.15pm we lock the gates to deter people from walking their dogs on the grounds.”

“Denbighshire County Council are going to introduce dog warden patrols which will be extended to include the school.”

The issue has affected the school’s sports facilities.

Gwyneth Day, head of PE at the high school, said: “It’s a shame when we get this happening to the grounds we’ve had it in the sand pit and on the running track. It’s not healthy when we are trying to teach the children about healthy living and we have to put up with this.”